Ted Nugent on Political Discourse: ‘We Have Got to Be More Respectful of the Other Side’
When it comes to politics, Ted Nugent is one of the most outspoken rockers in music. The rocker has taken a hardcore conservative stance over the years, even getting himself a visit from the secret service for some over-the-top comments made about President Obama. But in the wake of last week's shooting attack on the politicians at a GOP baseball practice that left House Majority Whip Steve Scalise critically wounded, Nugent appears ready to scale back on what could be deemed inflammatory remarks.
Speaking with WABC's Curtis & Eboni talk show (audio heard below), Nugent stated, "I'm a street fighter. I'm from Detroit. We use language in the street, we use certain harsh terms ... But at the tender age of 69, my wife has convinced me that I just can't use those harsh terms. I cannot, and I will not, and I encourage even my friends-slash-enemies on the left in the Democrat and liberal world that we have got to be civil to each other, that the whole world is watching America, where you have the God-given right to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness, and we have got to be more respectful to the other side."
He added, "I have to clarify: we really are angry. We don't believe, we cannot believe that people on the left don't want secure borders. This is crazy to us."
When asked about his previous remarks made against Obama and recent presidential candidate Hillary Clinton, Nugent added, "I'm not trying to make excuses, but when I made those wild-ass comments onstage against then-Senator Hillary Clinton and then-Senator Barack Obama, I don't know if you can grasp the degree of adrenaline and intensity and over-the-top animal spirit and attitude that I live onstage."
Nugent says he intends to stay passionate about speaking his mind, but added, "I will avoid anything that can be interpreted as condoning or referencing violence. I'm going to take a deep breath and I am going to back it down. And if it gets fiery, if it gets hateful, I'm going away. I'm not going to engage in that kind of hateful rhetoric anymore." You can hear Nugent's comments via the Twitter posting below.
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